For my 24.900 final paper, I have proposed to study the curious manner of speech that has developed in DOOMCom. I have already identified some differences between speech in DOOMCom and standard English, mostly having to do with emphasis and its relation to meaning interpretation. What I would like to do now is record some natural DOOMCom speech and attempt to find more examples of cases involving common phrases that have taken on new meaning in the context of the hall.

This would simply involve me and some other people in DOOMCom socializing in traditional DOOMCom ways at different times over the next three weeks. I would record our speech with a tape-recorder and then analyze trivial meaning (below the context of the conversation) later. Obviously I would omit any reference to inflammatory or controversial content, since that won't really be relevant.

What I would like to know is, do I have your support? I should add that I'm really excited about this paper topic and have been for the whole semester, so I'd really appreciate some
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My feelings will be hurt if I'm dismissed out of hand, but I'll promise just about anything if you have concerns about the recording or preferences for the socializing.

Also, funny story. On some assignment back when I was taking 24.900, I also mentioned DOOMSpeak as an example of local dialects. I'm pretty sure I got a bad grade on that assignment.

It turns out my TA is all over this topic and is very interested in hearing my results. He even suggested a further avenue for exploring ambiguity where multiple meanings are present, namely electronic communication. So I plan to scour the forums and the few AIM conversations I've had for variations on "indeed" and so forth.

1) At times, I've actually thought at length about this and actually spent a few pages on the topic in a paper I wrote for 24.251 iirc.

2) Star Trek: TNG... season 5, episode 2... one of my favorites (so far as TNG goes), and is relevant.

3) I really can't fathom how you are going to get natural DOOMConversation when everyone realizes that they are being recorded for a paper.

4) I'm going to spend the next 5 minutes trying to find a picture that summarizes my feelings... I shall return.

EDIT

And I'm back... in the last five minutes, a range of emotional reactions to this whole endeavor have played through my mind. I've settled on the following:

_________________When I am weaker than you, I ask you for freedom because that is according to your principles; when I am stronger than you, I take away your freedom because that is according to my principles.
-Children of Dune, attributed to Louis Veuillot

I'm not anticipating it will be that obvious. Hopefully people will consent to help.

Hmm, unless you've already recorded conversation or plan to have someone else smuggle in a recorder (Tom? Han Solo?), I'm just not seeing how you're going to get natural DOOMConversation.

G'luck though, I support this project.

_________________When I am weaker than you, I ask you for freedom because that is according to your principles; when I am stronger than you, I take away your freedom because that is according to my principles.
-Children of Dune, attributed to Louis Veuillot

So really, you're going to come to the conclusion that DOOMConversation is variations on "indeed" and references to various media.

Feel free to steal any of my conversation, but I'm really more of an outsider now I suppose._________________' What I'm thinking in my head is, 'Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I f---ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective'.

Alternate ending: the real answer is to just analyze the forums. Vast archives of pure, unadulterated DOOMSpeech.

There problem, here, is that it's really not the same thing._________________When I am weaker than you, I ask you for freedom because that is according to your principles; when I am stronger than you, I take away your freedom because that is according to my principles.
-Children of Dune, attributed to Louis Veuillot

Also... wtf is a "statussake"?_________________When I am weaker than you, I ask you for freedom because that is according to your principles; when I am stronger than you, I take away your freedom because that is according to my principles.
-Children of Dune, attributed to Louis Veuillot

_________________When I am weaker than you, I ask you for freedom because that is according to your principles; when I am stronger than you, I take away your freedom because that is according to my principles.
-Children of Dune, attributed to Louis Veuillot